Written Answers Wednesday 15 July 2009

Scottish Executive

Autism

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the importance of accurately recording the number of adults with autistic spectrum disorder in each local authority area to ensure that service provision can be adequately and appropriately targeted and supported.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a national database to record the number of adults with autistic spectrum disorder, requiring every local authority to record standardised statistics, enabling them and national organisations to identify need accurately and target services effectively and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities and NHS boards can provide precise numbers of adults with low-functioning and high-functioning autism.

Nicola Sturgeon: In 2008 the Scottish Government issued guidance to commissioners of health and social care services for people on the autism spectrum, recommending that local authorities and health boards work together to identify and keep a record of people with autism spectrum disorder in the same area.

  We have funded the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability to develop the eSAY national database project to support the collection of The same as you? statistics for people with a learning disability and people with autism spectrum disorders. The report for 2008 is due to be published in August.

  The Scottish Government also collects data on school children with autism and local authorities are encouraged to use this information for strategic planning purposes.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in local authorities who carry out community care assessments have received autism-specific training.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. It is for local authorities to make decisions on staff training requirements, based on local needs and priorities.

  However the Scottish Government has supported the Scottish Social Services Council to develop two new professional development awards at SCQF level 7 and 8. The awards aim to equip professionals, carers and volunteers to meet the needs of people with autism spectrum disorder and improve standards of practice.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs have received autism-specific training.

Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the number of GPs who have received autism-specific training is not held centrally. GP postgraduate trainees on training placements within paediatrics services or in community-based psychiatric settings will receive specific training in autism. Day release programmes are available more generally for GP trainees for whom autism-specific training is relevant.

  A range of online and other material and courses, including learning resources on autism spectrum disorders produced by NHS Education for Scotland, is also available to practising GPs.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities and NHS boards commission ongoing support from specialist teams for people with high-functioning autism.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  Scottish Government guidance to commissioners of services for people on the autism spectrum disorder in local authorities and health boards, issued in April 2008, offered examples of good practice in the provision of specialised services.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Health Directorate has carried out a cost-benefit analysis of specialised diagnostic and support services for people with high-functioning autism.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government funded two pilot projects which provide diagnostic and support services for people with high functioning autism. The full evaluations of these projects, including the outcomes for people in receipt of the services, are available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/adult-care-and-support/learning-disability/Resources.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients with type 1 diabetes is receiving insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is given in the following table:

  

 NHS Board
 Percentage of Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Receiving Insulin Pump Therapy, July 2009


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0.1%3


 Borders
 2%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1.3%


 Fife
 2.4%


 Forth Valley
 1.4%


 Grampian
 1.5%


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 1%


 Highland
 0.9%


 Lanarkshire
 1.1%


 Lothian
 3.2%


 Orkney1
 -


 Shetland2
 -


 Tayside
 4.2%


 Western Isles1
 -



  Source: Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks, July 2009.

  Notes:

  1. One patient on an insulin pump.

  2. NHS Shetland’s insulin pump provision is shared with NHS Grampian.

  3. It is envisaged that CSII implementation will be progressive and cumulative, taking three years to achieve 1% coverage of the overall type 1 population.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the proportion of patients with type 1 diabetes who meet the criteria for eligibility for insulin pump therapy under current clinical guidance.

Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish diabetes services are expected to provide insulin pumps services in line with the advice outlined in the NICE Technology Assessment 151(TA151).

  These criteria are thought to apply to between 4 and 14% of people with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for eligible patients with type 1 diabetes to secure access to insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is, where available, shown in the following table:

  

 NHS Board
 Average Waiting Time for Eligible Patients with Type 1 Diabetes to Secure Access to Insulin Pump Therapy


 Ayrshire and Arran
 No waiting list


 Borders
 Four to six weeks (adults only)


 Dumfries and Galloway
 Two months


 Western Isles1
 


 Fife
 Four weeks


 Forth Valley
 No waiting list


 Grampian
 Six months


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 Two months


 Highland
 No waiting list 


 Lanarkshire
 Three to four months


 Lothian2
 Not collected on the same basis 


 Orkney
 Six months


 Shetland1
 


 Tayside
 None



  Source: Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks, July 2009.

  Notes:

  1. Patients managed by either NHS Grampian or NHS Highland.

  2. NHS Lothian has interpreted the total waiting time to be from the time the pump criteria are agreed through to completion of insulin pump training and education. The average waiting time including waiting for training and education in Lothian is estimated to be around 12 months.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial provision has been made in each NHS board budget for insulin pump therapy in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is provided in the following table:

  

 NHS Board
 Financial Provision for Insulin Pump Therapy


 (a) 2009-10
 (b) 2010-11


 Ayrshire and Arran
 Funding allocated for three new pumps for paediatric care per year. Adult provision made on a case-by-case basis.


 Borders
 Funding allocated for six pumps per year


 Dumfries and Galloway
 No separate budget


 Western Isles1
 -


 Fife
 Funding allocated for 10 pumps per year


 Forth Valley
 ~£40,000 
 ~£40,000 


 Grampian2
 -


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde2
 -


 Highland
 No separate budget


 Lanarkshire3
£85,495
 


 Lothian
£382,000
£382,000


 Orkney2
 -


 Shetland1
 -


 Tayside3
£155,000
 -



  Source: Diabetes Managed Clinical Networks, July 2009.

  Notes:

  1. Patients managed by either NHS Grampian or NHS Highland.

  2. Business case currently being prepared.

  3. Business case currently being prepared for 2010-11.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average it takes to train a patient with type 1 diabetes in the use of an insulin pump and whether there has been a significant change in this time in recent years.

Nicola Sturgeon: On average, it can take between 15 to 20 hours to train a patient with type 1 diabetes in the use of an insulin pump. This does not include the dietetic education component that is completed prior to starting the insulin pump training. There has been no significant change in this timescale in recent years.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is provided to diabetes specialist nurses on the use of insulin pump therapy.

Nicola Sturgeon: Training of diabetes specialist nurses in the use of insulin pump therapy is provided by a range of institutions, including Warwick, Leeds and Liverpool John Moores Universities. A pump module is currently under development at Napier University, Edinburgh, that is expected to assist local training at MSc, BSc and non-accredited levels. These courses are complemented by technical support and training resources provided by insulin pump suppliers as part of local pump supply arrangements.

  In addition, the Scottish Diabetes Group in April this year, supported an insulin pump study day that brought together over 60 clinicians, including diabetes specialist nurses, from across Scotland to learn more about insulin pumps.

Diabetes

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions have been given in the last 12 months to the leaders of diabetes-managed clinical networks on improving access to insulin pump therapy for eligible patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Diabetes Group has made insulin pump therapy a standing item on the agenda of the regular meetings of the diabetes Managed Clinical Network lead clinicians. It has also been made clear to them that each NHS board’s insulin strategy must take account of the criteria set out in NICE Technology Appraisal 151.

Early Years

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it is delivering to promote and advance child play safety.

Keith Brown: The early years framework identifies improving outcomes and children’s quality of life through play as a key element of transformational change needed to give children the best start in life.

  To deliver this vision, the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Care Commission, Play Scotland and the police are leading a debate on understanding and balancing the benefits of play against risk. This will include discussing attitudes and perceptions regarding risk and safety in play settings with parents and providers.

Early Years

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it makes available for the promotion and advancement of child play safety.

Keith Brown: There is no separate ring-fenced funding for the promotion and advancement of child play safety.

  Through the Single Outcome Agreement process, local authorities and community planning partners are responsible for securing improved outcomes for children in their local areas, where necessary realigning existing resources to support the early years framework and priorities such as play.

Employment

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the (a) numbers and (b) unemployment rates of claimants in each ward of (i) City of Edinburgh, (ii) East Lothian, (iii) West Lothian and (iv) Midlothian Council in each of the last five years, using claimant count as the basis for such calculations.

Jim Mather: Data on the number and rates of people claiming an unemployment related benefit by multi-member electoral ward is not held centrally.

  Data on the number of people who are claimant count unemployed by the old ward boundaries (which existed until the 2007 local government elections) is shown in the following tables.

  This data is produced by the Office for National Statistics and shows both the number of people claiming an unemployment related benefit and the rate as a proportion of the resident working-age population. The Office for National Statistics produce this data for February 2004 onwards. Hence it is not possible to provide a full annual figure for 2004.

  Table 1: Numbers And Rates of People Claimant Count Unemployed by City of Edinburgh Council Wards (2005-08)

  

 Ward
 Number of Claimants
 Rate


 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Alnwickhill
 71
 76
 73
 68
 1.6
 1.6
 1.6
 1.5


 Baberton
 32
 37
 35
 34
 0.7
 0.8
 0.8
 0.7


 Balerno
 29
 26
 33
 35
 0.6
 0.5
 0.7
 0.7


 Broughton
 154
 162
 126
 128
 2.6
 2.7
 2.1
 2.1


 Calton
 147
 156
 121
 117
 2.6
 2.7
 2.1
 2


 Colinton
 31
 33
 25
 29
 0.5
 0.6
 0.4
 0.5


 Craigleith
 59
 57
 38
 40
 1.4
 1.3
 0.9
 0.9


 Craiglockhart
 36
 36
 26
 26
 0.8
 0.8
 0.6
 0.6


 Craigmillar
 328
 294
 231
 222
 7.5
 6.7
 5.3
 5.1


 Cramond
 45
 41
 36
 35
 1.1
 0.9
 0.8
 0.8


 Dalmeny / Kirkliston
 84
 87
 77
 75
 1.7
 1.8
 1.5
 1.5


 Dalry
 212
 192
 166
 157
 3.2
 2.9
 2.5
 2.3


 Davidson’s Mains
 41
 38
 29
 30
 1
 0.9
 0.7
 0.7


 Dean
 63
 58
 45
 43
 1.2
 1.1
 0.8
 0.8


 Duddingston
 85
 101
 71
 83
 1.7
 2.1
 1.5
 1.7


 East Craigs
 91
 101
 83
 91
 1.9
 2.2
 1.8
 1.9


 Fairmilehead
 40
 40
 27
 26
 0.8
 0.8
 0.5
 0.5


 Firrhill
 99
 102
 96
 96
 2.1
 2.2
 2.1
 2.1


 Fountainbridge
 135
 155
 125
 116
 2.5
 2.8
 2.3
 2.1


 Gilmerton
 91
 88
 60
 70
 1.6
 1.6
 1.1
 1.2


 Granton
 222
 247
 218
 218
 4.8
 5.4
 4.7
 4.7


 Gyle 
 58
 52
 44
 47
 1.1
 1
 0.8
 0.9


 Harbour
 224
 235
 200
 196
 4.5
 4.7
 4
 3.9


 Holyrood
 200
 204
 190
 188
 3.9
 4
 3.7
 3.7


 Kaimes
 183
 174
 155
 126
 3.8
 3.6
 3.2
 2.6


 Leith Links
 131
 139
 115
 112
 2.6
 2.7
 2.3
 2.2


 Lorne
 193
 235
 187
 184
 3.7
 4.5
 3.6
 3.5


 Marchmont
 54
 47
 45
 34
 0.9
 0.8
 0.7
 0.6


 Meadowbank
 123
 131
 121
 117
 2.2
 2.3
 2.2
 2.1


 Merchiston
 77
 60
 55
 49
 1.3
 1.1
 1
 0.9


 Milton 
 110
 111
 100
 94
 2.5
 2.5
 2.3
 2.2


 Moat
 132
 140
 134
 113
 2.7
 2.9
 2.7
 2.3


 Moredun
 170
 171
 155
 164
 3.7
 3.7
 3.3
 3.5


 Mountcastle
 99
 105
 87
 82
 2.1
 2.2
 1.9
 1.7


 Muirhouse / Drylaw
 377
 385
 300
 295
 7.2
 7.3
 5.7
 5.6


 Murray Burn
 260
 281
 256
 274
 4.9
 5.3
 4.8
 5.2


 Murrayfield
 50
 41
 31
 37
 1
 0.8
 0.6
 0.7


 North East Corstorphine
 57
 47
 42
 45
 1.3
 1
 0.9
 1


 New Town
 73
 75
 60
 52
 1.3
 1.3
 1
 0.9


 Newhaven
 204
 220
 193
 201
 4
 4.3
 3.8
 3.9


 Newington 
 47
 50
 41
 38
 1
 1.1
 0.9
 0.8


 North Morningside / Grange
 61
 56
 49
 38
 1.3
 1.2
 1.1
 0.8


 Parkhead
 215
 231
 210
 211
 4.4
 4.7
 4.3
 4.3


 Pilton
 258
 290
 228
 228
 5
 5.6
 4.4
 4.4


 Portobello
 104
 108
 89
 73
 2.4
 2.4
 2
 1.6


 Prestonfield
 49
 52
 45
 47
 0.9
 0.9
 0.8
 0.8


 Queensferry
 77
 85
 63
 70
 1.3
 1.4
 1.1
 1.2


 Restalrig
 212
 221
 206
 212
 4.2
 4.4
 4.1
 4.2


 South East Corstorphine
 48
 50
 44
 47
 1
 1.1
 0.9
 1


 Sciennes
 60
 53
 35
 33
 1.1
 1
 0.6
 0.6


 Shandon
 132
 146
 126
 121
 2.1
 2.3
 2
 1.9


 Sighthill
 159
 173
 130
 128
 2.6
 2.8
 2.1
 2.1


 South Morningside 
 50
 42
 28
 36
 1
 0.8
 0.6
 0.7


 Southside
 130
 133
 114
 102
 1.9
 2
 1.7
 1.5


 Stenhouse
 125
 132
 112
 106
 2.8
 2.9
 2.5
 2.4


 Stockbridge
 75
 64
 57
 52
 1.4
 1.2
 1.1
 1


 Tollcross
 142
 148
 109
 103
 2.4
 2.5
 1.8
 1.7


 Trinity
 52
 52
 50
 46
 1.1
 1.1
 1.1
 1



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Table 2: Numbers And Rates of People Claimant Count Unemployed by East Lothian Council wards (2005-08)

  

Ward
Number of Claimants
Rate


2005
2006
2007
2008
2005
2006
2007
2008


Aberlady / Gullane / Dirleton
16
15
12
12
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.6


Cockenzie and Port Seton
35
34
27
36
1.3
1.2
1
1.3


Dunbar East
52
40
33
35
2.1
1.7
1.4
1.4


Dunbar / West Barns
58
39
34
43
2.6
1.7
1.5
1.9


East Linton / Gifford
34
28
26
28
1.3
1.1
1
1.1


Haddington Central
42
37
30
35
1.9
1.7
1.3
1.5


Haddington East / Athelstaneford
42
38
31
31
1.6
1.5
1.2
1.2


Haddington West / Saltoun
26
22
16
21
1.1
0.9
0.7
0.9


Longniddry
16
14
11
16
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.6


Musselburgh Central
39
44
33
37
1.6
1.8
1.4
1.5


Musselburgh East
43
48
39
42
2
2.1
1.8
1.9


Musselburgh North
39
38
37
46
1.9
1.9
1.8
2.2


Musselburgh South
31
27
30
35
1.2
1
1.2
1.4


Musselburgh West
28
28
30
30
1
1
1.1
1.1


North Berwick East
22
16
17
19
1
0.8
0.8
0.8


North Berwick West
16
17
14
17
0.7
0.8
0.6
0.8


Ormiston / Pencaitland
34
31
28
25
1.4
1.2
1.1
1


Prestonpans East
41
41
35
40
1.9
2
1.7
1.9


Prestonpans West
52
58
51
53
2.3
2.7
2.3
2.4


Tranent West
40
41
42
44
1.9
1.9
2
2.1


Tranent / Elphinstone
24
29
26
28
1
1.2
1.1
1.2


Tranent / Macmerry
59
55
46
54
2.5
2.3
1.9
2.3


Wallyford / Whitecraig
53
47
42
53
2.2
1.9
1.8
2.2



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Table 3: Numbers And Rates of People Claimant Count Unemployed by Midlothian Council Wards (2005-08)

  

 Ward
 Number of Claimants
 Rate


 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Arniston / Cockpen
 58
 68
 49
 54
 1.7
 1.9
 1.4
 1.6


 Bilston / Roslin
 41
 49
 44
 40
 1.5
 1.8
 1.6
 1.5


 Bonnyrigg North
 34
 39
 38
 40
 1.3
 1.5
 1.4
 1.5


 Bonnyrigg South
 54
 56
 44
 44
 1.9
 2
 1.5
 1.5


 Dalkeith / Eskbank
 70
 77
 55
 52
 2.9
 3.1
 2.2
 2.1


 Dalkeith / Newton
 50
 55
 39
 38
 1.8
 2
 1.4
 1.3


 Dalkeith / Woodburn
 89
 97
 70
 82
 3.2
 3.5
 2.5
 2.9


 Easthouses / Mayfield North
 91
 104
 87
 81
 3.3
 3.8
 3.1
 2.9


 Gorebridge South
 62
 68
 59
 63
 2.4
 2.6
 2.3
 2.4


 Loanhead
 60
 58
 50
 54
 2.3
 2.2
 2
 2.1


 Mayfield South
 56
 64
 45
 51
 2.1
 2.4
 1.7
 1.9


 Newbattle / Pathhead
 29
 29
 29
 27
 1.1
 1.2
 1.1
 1.1


 Newtongrange
 59
 56
 42
 55
 2.1
 2
 1.5
 1.9


 Penicuik North
 40
 47
 36
 36
 1.2
 1.4
 1.1
 1.1


 Penicuik South East
 40
 42
 38
 50
 1.5
 1.6
 1.4
 1.9


 Penicuik South West
 35
 41
 31
 40
 1.2
 1.4
 1.1
 1.3


 Penicuik / Roslin
 51
 51
 46
 46
 1.8
 1.8
 1.6
 1.6


 Poltonhall / Rosewell
 47
 45
 35
 40
 1.7
 1.7
 1.3
 1.4



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

  Table 4: Numbers And Rates of People Claimant Count Unemployed by West Lothian Council Wards (2005-08)

  

 Ward
 Number of Claimants
 Rate


 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Almond
 75
 77
 82
 92
 2.5
 2.6
 2.8
 3.1


 Armadale Central
 95
 112
 114
 120
 3.5
 4.2
 4.2
 4.5


 Armadale West
 79
 83
 90
 101
 2.4
 2.6
 2.7
 3.1


 Blackburn 
 114
 127
 121
 133
 3.5
 3.8
 3.7
 4


 Boghall
 92
 106
 100
 110
 3.6
 4.2
 3.9
 4.3


 Breich Valley 
 81
 104
 82
 98
 2.4
 3
 2.4
 2.9


 Calderwood
 40
 42
 39
 38
 1.2
 1.2
 1.1
 1.1


 Carmondean
 66
 64
 64
 70
 1.8
 1.7
 1.7
 1.9


 Craigshill
 166
 190
 172
 163
 5.4
 6.1
 5.6
 5.3


 Croftmalloch
 81
 89
 90
 97
 2.7
 2.9
 3
 3.2


 Deans
 80
 84
 78
 87
 2.2
 2.4
 2.2
 2.5


 Dedridge
 108
 110
 94
 92
 3
 3.1
 2.6
 2.6


 Durhamtoun
 44
 53
 55
 73
 1.8
 2.1
 2.3
 3


 East Calder
 40
 43
 43
 45
 1.2
 1.3
 1.3
 1.4


 Easton 
 51
 58
 56
 63
 1.8
 2
 1.9
 2.1


 Fauldhouse
 86
 100
 97
 96
 2.6
 3.1
 3
 3


 Houston 
 45
 66
 65
 67
 1.5
 2.1
 2.1
 2.2


 Howden
 99
 89
 80
 78
 2.7
 2.5
 2.2
 2.2


 Kingsfield
 26
 29
 27
 26
 0.7
 0.8
 0.7
 0.7


 Kirkton
 35
 29
 19
 36
 1
 0.8
 0.5
 1


 Knightsridge
 87
 96
 80
 78
 2.2
 2.4
 2.1
 2


 Ladywell
 114
 125
 112
 108
 3.6
 4
 3.6
 3.4


 Limefield
 63
 66
 54
 65
 2.1
 2.2
 1.8
 2.2


 Linhouse
 50
 55
 51
 56
 1.5
 1.6
 1.5
 1.7


 Middleton
 62
 74
 59
 71
 2.1
 2.5
 2
 2.3


 Murieston
 31
 35
 26
 21
 0.9
 1
 0.7
 0.6


 Newland
 87
 85
 86
 102
 3.2
 3.1
 3.1
 3.7


 Oatridge
 61
 68
 68
 72
 2
 2.3
 2.2
 2.4


 Polkemmet
 110
 122
 121
 129
 3.8
 4.3
 4.2
 4.6


 Preston 
 46
 40
 31
 39
 1.2
 1
 0.8
 1


 St Michael’s
 44
 46
 47
 50
 1.5
 1.6
 1.6
 1.7


 Strathbrock
 57
 70
 67
 66
 2
 2.4
 2.3
 2.3



  Source: Office for National Statistics.

Executive Agencies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all executive agencies and associated directorates, showing which are certified to a formal quality management standard; what the standard is; how long the standard has been in place, and whether the certification will be maintained.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not require executive agencies to gain certification to any formal quality management standard and therefore does not hold such data centrally. Such information could only be gathered at disproportionate cost.

  Ensuring quality and continuous improvement across a broad range of activities is assured via accountable officer duties, one of which is to ensure that arrangements have been made to secure best value.

  The Scottish Government was the first government department to gain recognition as an Investor in People (IIP), in its entirety, in 1997. The latest post recognition review in August 2007 confirmed Scottish Government status as an Investor in People for a further three years to August 2010.

Executive Agencies

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that executive agencies and associated directorates that are not certified to a formal quality management standard promote continuous improvement.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government secures continuous improvement in the performance of functions by all public service organisations, including executive agencies and the Scottish Government itself using best value arrangements.

  Continuous improvement seeks to balance quality and cost considerations, and is achieved with regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, the equal opportunities arrangements, and sustainable development.

Ferry Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to a pilot road equivalent tariff for the ferry service from Caithness to Orkney.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no plans to extend the current road equivalent tariff pilot.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any scallop dredgers have operated inside the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran since they were banned from doing so in September 2008.

Richard Lochhead: Three scallop dredgers have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay since the restriction was introduced however these vessels appear to have been on transit through the area as no speeds of less than 5 knots (fishing speeds) were recorded.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vessel monitoring system-equipped vessels have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran since it was established.

Richard Lochhead: A total of 13 vessels fitted with satellite-based vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay since it was establish. This includes 11 VMS equipped fishing vessels and two fishery protection vessels which are also equipped with VMS.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any person has been caught contravening the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition on Fishing) (Lamlash Bay) (Scotland) Order 2008

Richard Lochhead: There have been no detected breaches of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition on Fishing) (Lamlash Bay) (Scotland) Order 2008.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died from anaphylactic shock in each of the last 10 years and how many of these deaths followed an adverse reaction to a drug or medicine, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of deaths where anaphylactic shock was a contributory factor, and where this followed an adverse reaction to a drug or medicine, are shown in the following tables. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) rules do not allow anaphylactic shock to be counted as the underlying cause of death. Therefore, table 1 shows numbers of deaths where anaphylactic shock was a contributory factor to the death; table 2 shows numbers of deaths for which a contributory factor was anaphylactic shock due to adverse effect of correct drug or medicine properly administered.

  Table 1: Deaths Where Anaphylactic Shock Was a Contributory Factor by NHS Board And Year.

  

NHS Board
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008


Ayrshire and Arran
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Borders
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Fife 
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0


Forth Valley 
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Grampian
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
2


Highland 
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0


Lanarkshire
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Lothian
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0


Orkney
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0


Shetland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Tayside
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Scotland
0
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
4
2



  Table 2: Deaths Where Anaphylactic Shock Was a Contributory Factor Due to the Adverse Effects of a Prescribed Drug or Medicine Properly Administered, by NHS Board And Year.

  

 NHS Board
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Ayrshire and Arran
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Borders
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Fife 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Forth Valley 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 1
 1
 0


 Highland 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Orkney
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 0
 2
 1
 1
 1
 1
 2
 1
 1
 0



  Source: General Registry Office Scotland.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the number of (a) terminations of pregnancy, (b) repeat terminations of pregnancy and (c) terminations of pregnancy beyond 10 weeks.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are increasing access to services throughout Scotland, in line with the NHS QIS Sexual Health Services Standards. For young people in particular, we have made a commitment to ensure that a young people’s sexual health drop-in service is available either within, or near, every school in Scotland.

  We are also undertaking a social marketing campaign to increase awareness and uptake of long lasting methods of contraception.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the uptake of long-acting contraceptive measures.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am pleased to confirm that, on 14 July 2009, we launched a social marketing campaign to encourage women, including young women, to use long-lasting methods of contraception.

  This campaign, which will focus on "giving you more choice", will raise awareness of those types of contraception such as the implant and coil which provide lasting effective contraception for up to 10 years.

  Increasing the number of women using long lasting methods of contraception will have a positive impact in the short term on repeat terminations and in the longer term on unintended pregnancy.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding is being made available to NHS24 and primary care to employ additional staff to meet the demands associated with the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Nicola Sturgeon: £0.4 million has been allocated to NHS24 to date. We are working closely with NHS24 and NHSScotland generally to ensure that appropriate services are provided.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients experiencing strokes is (a) blue light transferred to hospital with a pre-alert to the receiving unit, (b) offered a CT scan, (c) offered a CT scan within three or four hours, (d) admitted directly to a specialist hyper-acute stroke unit within 24 hours, (e) given thrombolysis therapy within three or four hours of onset and (f) given early multidisciplinary assessment, including swallowing screening within 24 hours and identification of cognitive and perception problems.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested in part (a) of the question is not available. A key performance indicator (KPI) for ensuring rapid transfer and assessment of patients presenting with acute stroke is however being developed. The Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) will monitor NHS boards’ progress against that indicator.

  The updated NHS QIS stroke standards published at the end of June stipulate that thrombolysis services should be aiming to treat more than five stroke patients per 100,000 population and to ensure that the door-to-needle time is less than one hour in at least 80% of patients treated. In anticipation of this, SSCA started collecting data in January 2009 on all patients thrombolysed in Scotland. The first data should be published in summer 2010.

  The further information requested in the question is not held in exactly the format requested, but the information we do hold is presented here in the most appropriate way possible. The Scottish Stroke Care Audit database captures information on the percentage of stroke patients undergoing scanning during admission (including CT scan but also other forms), admission to any stroke unit within one day of admission and swallow screening on the day of, or within one day of, admission. The most up-to-date information can be found in the 2008 SSCA national report and is shown in the following table:

  NHS QIS Stroke Standards (March 2004)

  

 Indicator*
 
 Audit Period


 2005
 2007


 Stroke Patients (denominator for percentages)
 Number
 7,409
 7,954


 Swallow screen during admission
 Number
 4,774
 5,510


 Percentage
 64
 69


 Swallow screen on day of admission
 Number
 3,289
 3,965


 Percentage
 44
 50


 Swallow screen within one day of admission
 Number
 4,172
 5,000


 Percentage
 56
 63


 Scanned during admission
 Number
 6,997
 7,624


 Percentage
 94
 96


 Scanned within two days of admission
 Number
 5,809
 6,893


 Percentage
 78
 87


 Admitted to stroke unit within one day of admission
 Number
 3,785
 4,437


 Percentage
 51
 56



  Source: Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA) 2008 National Report.

  Notes:

  *Includes missing data in the denominator; in general NHS QIS adopt the more rigorous standard where the denominator includes those with missing data i.e. if it is not recorded that something was done then it was assumed that it was not.

  Data for 2006 are not available, as the SSCA agreed a data collection amnesty that year to allow hospitals with data entry backlog to focus on collecting audit data for 2007.

  The issues raised in the question are highlighted in our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan, published in June 2009.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many stroke networks have been established in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are 14 stroke managed clinical networks in Scotland, one in each NHS board.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage is of patients with a transient ischemic attack (a) offered an MRI scan, (b) given appropriate carotid artery screening and (c) given aspirin.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information requested is not available. NHS boards will however need to be able to demonstrate whether they meet the relevant updated NHS Quality Improvement Scotland clinical standard, which is that TIA patients have their risk factors assessed and documented and are offered treatment and lifestyle advice.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths would be prevented if timely access to stroke units were increased to 75% of stroke patients and when this figure will be reviewed.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not available.

  The updated clinical standards published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland at the end of June include the following essential criteria:

  60% of all patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of stroke are admitted to the stroke unit on the day of presentation at hospital, and remain in specialist stroke care until in-hospital rehabilitation is complete, and

  90% of all patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of stroke are admitted to the stroke unit on the day of admission, or the day following presentation at hospital, and remain in specialist stroke care until in-hospital rehabilitation is complete.

  NHS boards, through their stroke MCNs, are expected to meet these standards. The position is monitored annually through the Scottish Stroke Care Audit.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients it predicts would regain independence rather than die or become long-term dependent if (a) 10% and (b) 15% of stroke patients received thrombolysis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available. There is clear evidence, however, that timely thrombolysis in appropriate cases improves outcomes for patients.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the clinical indicators of best practice in commissioning stroke services.

Nicola Sturgeon: The updated stroke standards published in June by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland are based on the most recent evidence on clinical effectiveness, as set out in Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 108 on the management of patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to Highland Hospice following the loss of £700,000 cash deposits in Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander (KSF).

Nicola Sturgeon: As an independent voluntary organisation, the Highland Hospice receives funding for services provided to NHS Highland. This funding is unaffected by the current economic downturn. Any financial loss suffered by Highland Hospice as a consequence of investing with Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander will require to be pursued by the hospice management, with the bank’s administrators. The Scottish Government is unable to provide assistance to recoup financial losses suffered by Highland Hospice as a consequence of investing with Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander.

Housing

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registrations of potential liability against home owners or landlords have been made with the Keeper of the Land Register for (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008.

John Swinney: The number notices of potential liability of costs registered by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland in the Scottish property registers during the financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09 is set out in the following table. The information is given for both the Land Register of Scotland and the General Register of Sasines.

  Notices of Potential Liability for Costs

  

 Financial Year
 Land Register
 Sasine Register
 Total


 2005-06
 1,166
 61
 1,227


 2006-07
 1,861
 50
 1,911


 2007-08
 2,019
 77
 2,096


 2008-09
 4,332
 98
 4,430


 Total
 9,378
 286
 9,664

Justice

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24632 by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2009 and the answer to the supplementary to question S3O-7232 by Fergus Ewing on 3 June 2009 ( Official Report c. 18094), whether it has asked for a projected cost of any proposed rehabilitation programme for offenders convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 and, if so, when the projected figure will be made public.

Fergus Ewing: There is no specific rehabilitation programme available to courts for offenders who are convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 and we are not looking to develop such a programme at this time. Offenders who are convicted of such an offence and are subject to statutory supervision in the community will receive an individualised intervention to target their related risks and needs.

  The anti-sectarian education resource which was originally developed by YouthLink Scotland, and is now being used as the basis for the anti-sectarian work being delivered in Polmont Young Offenders Institute (YOI), is working well and I believe that the appropriate way forward is to look at how we can build on this positive initiative. On 25 June 2009, the First Minister announced that we will present our coordinated approach to tackling sectarianism to the Parliament in October 2009. This will draw together the different strands of existing activity that are already helping our communities to overcome this long-standing problem, including how we will build on the resources being used to tackle sectarian attitudes among inmates in Polmont YOI.

Local Government

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of commissioned it uses in the context of local authorities’ infrastructure projects.

John Swinney: The definition of commissioned consistently used in the context of local authorities’ infrastructure projects has been when a project has been advertised to the market by being published in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect national data on mental health officer vacancies.

Nicola Sturgeon: A staffing statistical survey is undertaken on a yearly basis and asks each local authority for the number of currently unfilled vacancies as at 31 March of that year.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to collect better information on community mental health services in light of the comments in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services .

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government began the Mental Health NHS Benchmarking Project in 2007, to obtain more comprehensive information around both inpatient and community services.

  Common definitions of community mental health services have been established across Scotland to enable measurement and comparison of services in each NHS board area in terms of type of service, availability and staffing. This data collection has been piloted in the board areas and a further collection round is due for completion in August 2009. A costing pilot to relate costs of community services to individual services has been completed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley. A workshop was held with finance officers in each board area to explain the methodology to them, and each board will now attempt to match costs to community services by the end of the year.

  The benchmarking project is also now undertaking a scoping exercise to ascertain current provision and need in terms accessing information on services by IT.

  Local authorities also provide community mental health services both directly or through the voluntary sector. The Mental Health Benchmarking Group has representation from the local authorities and through them we have approached the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) who have taken forward a piece of work to commission common core definitions around local authority services. This report has to go to ADSW and local authorities for consultation and approval.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the provision of crisis and out-of-hours services for people with mental health problems.

Nicola Sturgeon: The national standards for crisis services was published in 2006, followed by the Crisis Toolkit in 2008; both key parts of the Scottish Government’s work with partners in recent years on strengthening community mental health services and reducing inappropriate readmissions.

  Implementation of the national standards is evaluated as part of the Scottish Government’s performance management of NHS boards and complemented by the work of the Mental Health Collaborative in helping boards achieve the HEAT target on reducing readmissions. In addition, the work of the Mental Health NHS Benchmarking Project includes action on developing the collection of data on the availability of crisis and out-of-hours services. This data will enable boards and others to compare and measure service provision and enhance planning.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assess more accurately the number of people who have mental health problems.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are three main approaches. Firstly, clinicians routinely collect diagnostic information in the course of their practice and this information may be aggregated to provide national information about particular conditions. Examples of this are the use of read codes in general practice and of psychiatric inpatient episode records for inpatients. This produces good data about people who are in contact with different component parts of the NHS. Secondly, the NHS commissions survey work to assess the number of people with mental health problems. An example of this is the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey which provides data on the prevalence of both treated and untreated psychiatric disorders on the basis of surveying the general population on the particular issue of mental illness. Scotland participated in that survey in 1993 and 2000. Thirdly, questions about people’s own perception and experience of their mental health are included within more general surveys such as the Scottish Health Survey. Taking these approaches together, we believe we have an accurate estimate of the number of people with more serious mental illnesses, but a more general understanding of the number of people suffering from disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when external auditors will report on progress on the recommendations made in the Audit Scotland report, Overview of mental health services .

Nicola Sturgeon: Audit Scotland record in the report that they will commission external auditors to evaluate progress made by the Scottish Government and local partners against the recommendations made in the report, using the self-assessment checklist for local partners appended to the report.

  This commission, and the timing of the external auditor’s report, will be determined by Audit Scotland.

Ministerial Engagements

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the First Minister has planned for July and August 2009 and whether an estimate has been made of catering costs.

John Swinney: First Minister’s summer activities will focus on the Scottish Government summer cabinet meetings, taking place across the country. Details can be found at:

  www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/06/24094717.

  Further to these events, the First Minister will undertake a range of other engagements in line with usual business. All events are planned with cost effectiveness as a priority.

Ministerial Visits

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 ministers have visited Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on official business; what the nature of the business was on each occasion, and whether a parking charge was incurred, broken down by year of visit and name of minister.

John Swinney: For the requested information since May 2007 I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24907 on 2 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  The information isn’t held prior to May 2000, and so the following table shows the information since May 2000. Please note that we hold no record of any car parking charges. However, it is normal practice that if a minister arrives by ministerial car, he/she is dropped off and then later collected at a designated meeting point.

  

 Minister
 Date
 Engagement


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 6 October 2000
 NHS Modernisation – Public Consultation


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 8 February 2002
 Opening of the Integrated Oral Care Department


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 21 February 2002
 Opening of Linear Accelerator Suite


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 17 May 2002
 Launch on NHS Education for Scotland


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 19 July 2002
 Opening of Surgical Simulation Unit


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 16 September 2002
 Opening of Infectious Disease Unit and Outpatient Clinic Area


 First Minister
 11 February 2003
 Visit Accident and Emergency Dept and deliver Health speech


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 11 February 2003
 As above


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 24 February 2003
 Opening of Clinical Technology Centre


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 7 May 2004
 Visit to Maggie’s Centre


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 17 January 2005
 Opening Acute Stroke Unit


 Deputy Health Minister
 2 August 2005
 Visit to Ninewells Hospital to view Diabetic service


 Minister for Health and Community Care
 20 September 2005
 University of Dundee conference: Health in the Information Age


 Deputy Health Minister
 17 August 2006
 Meeting with Senior Managers


 Deputy Health Minister
 2 November 2006
 Meeting of East of Scotland Faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on a new strategy for community hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: Following the publication of the 2006 strategy Developing Community Hospitals: a strategy for Scotland, the Scottish Government has no plans to develop a new strategy for community hospitals. It is a matter for NHS boards, working with community health partnerships, and in responding to Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare, to review and develop community hospitals as required to meet the healthcare needs of their resident population.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether appropriate treatments and facilities are made available for prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  Treatments and facilities are available for prisoners with severe and ensuring mental health problems. SPS policy "Positive Mental Health" guides the provision of mental health services available to prisoners and SPS Healthcare Standards states criterion for the delivery of mental health services within prison and provision of facilities.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect overcrowded prisons have on patients with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The impact overcrowded prisons have on patients with severe and enduring mental health problems are many, examples include:

  A direct effect on mental health as a consequence of, for example, noise, people, or lack of personal space;

  It is more difficult to identify prisoners requiring additional support as a consequence of increased demands on staff to carry out other activities;

  Access to constructive activity is limited as a consequence of pressure on resources;

  Increased time spent isolated in cells, or enforced sharing of accommodation, or the risk of being placed in inappropriate accommodation;

  A greater risk of behaviour, such as bullying, that impact on a person’s mental health,

  Rapid transfer to another prison without fully adequate preparation because of pressure on an already overcrowded prison.

  More documentary evidence is available in HM Chief Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland’s Thematic Review: Out of Site, Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems in Scotland’s Prisons. A copy can be located at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/244161/0068214.pdf.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect is of segregation on prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  In the event of segregation, there is a high risk that the experience may damage mental health. According to the World Health Organization, prisoners held in isolation or segregation may experience increased anxiety, visual hallucinations and psychotic-type symptoms, as well as loss of memory and impaired concentration and an increased risk of suicide; and that such symptoms and behaviours can develop unbeknown to staff. Additionally people who have suffered severe and repeated traumas in childhood and their youth may be especially prone to stress response syndromes.

  Scottish prisons take all reasonable measures to avoid the segregation of prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all prisoners with severe and enduring mental health problems are made aware of their right to access advocacy support under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  Since the implementation of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, the Scottish Prison Service, at both local and national levels, has sought to work with partner agencies and voluntary providers to put in place independent advocacy services for those who require it. SPS continues to work with such providers to develop service across the prison estate. Where services are available, these are advertised and information provided by healthcare staff.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how prisoners with severe and enduring mental health conditions are treated in the (a) prison estate and (b) NHS.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS responds to the social and mental health needs of all prisoners within Scottish penal establishments, including providing access to specialist healthcare provision when an assessed need is identified; and to ensure that we provide prison environments and means of support that encourage positive mental wellbeing to all the people the organisation is responsible for.

  Multi-disciplinary mental health teams (MDMHT) oversee the care and individualised clinical management of the majority of prisoners with mental health difficulties including those with severe and enduring mental health problems. A range of options are available for treatment, which commonly follows the advice of visiting specialists in psychiatry.

  The SPS are unable to provide a response to part (b) of the question.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to transfer health care and treatment in prisons to the NHS.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The National Programme Board for Prisoners’ Healthcare will oversees and steers the preparatory work, and the eventual operational transfer of the responsibility of the primary healthcare services from the SPS to NHS boards.

  Mr John Ross CBE has been appointed as Chair of the National Programme Board for Prisoners’ Healthcare.

  The membership of the board is made up of NHS and SPS senior staff, NHS and SPS staff organisations, Scottish Government staff and representatives of service users.

  Currently, individual prisoners requiring specialist care transfer to the NHS for health care and treatment, returning to prison care when clinically appropriate.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17783 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 November 2008, whether it is possible for a resident who has submitted a written objection to the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) to find out whether it fell within the remit and was considered by the AWPR public local inquiry.

Stewart Stevenson: The reporters appointed to conduct the public local inquiry and to report to Scottish ministers into objections received against the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route have considered all objections passed to them by Transport Scotland. The remit of the inquiry was set by Scottish ministers and, in preparing their report to ministers, the reporters will only report on matters that fall within this remit. The reporters are not advising individual parties, of which there are approximately 10,000, who made representations of whether this fell within the remit of the inquiry.

  The report and recommendations has now been submitted to Scottish ministers on 30 June 2009.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23730 by John Swinney on 26 May 2009, whether it remains the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s position that an early focus of the Scottish Futures Trust is the delivery and funding of schools.

John Swinney: Yes.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24622 by John Swinney on 26 June 2009, when the Scottish Futures Trust will be fully established.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24622 by John Swinney on 26 June 2009, whether a deadline has been set for the Scottish Futures Trust to be fully established.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24622 by John Swinney on 26 June 2009, what criteria will be used to determine when the Scottish Futures Trust is fully established.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has progressed beyond the transitional phase of creating its corporate and operational structures and is now in the process of recruiting key staff. Once recruited, these staff will support SFT in fully delivering its business objectives and increasing its ability to add real value to project development and delivery functions. A five-year SFT corporate plan will be produced by September 2009.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2009 ( Official Report c. 18438), whether different funding models, including NPD and PPP, are being considered by (a) it and (b) the Scottish Futures Trust for use in the school building programme.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when decisions will be reached by (a) it and (b) the Scottish Futures Trust regarding the use of different funding models for the school building programme.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when decisions taken by (a) it and (b) the Scottish Futures Trust on different funding models for the school building programme will be publicly available.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set a deadline for the Scottish Futures Trust to (a) reach a decision and (b) advise ministers on future funding models for school building and, if so, what this deadline is.

John Swinney: As already stated in Parliament on 17 June 2009 by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, we expect the first phase of the school building programme to be funded through direct capital investment. We have tasked the Scottish Futures Trust to consider and advise on funding models for future phases following discussions with the Scottish Government, COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and local authorities themselves.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2009 ( Official Report c. 18438), when the Scottish Futures Trust will have (a) developed, (b) recommended and (c) implemented the "approaches that will secure a better school building programme across Scotland and better value for money".

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities’ work with the Scottish Futures Trust is initiated and by whom.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities are entitled to receive advice from the Scottish Futures Trust.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement to the Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2009 ( Official Report c. 18438), whether all local authorities will be provided with advice and recommendations from the Scottish Futures Trust on school building or whether this will be provided only to local authorities accessing direct capital investment.

John Swinney: As stated in the Scottish Futures Trust’s (SFT) published Business Plan (Bib. number 48319) "SFT will prepare a business case to demonstrate the value of aggregated procurement and delivery with three local authorities (East Renfrewshire, Midlothian, and Angus Councils) as a pilot project. This business case will serve as a model for SFT involvement in aggregated/collaborative procurement and will be bound in with discussions on a wider schools delivery programme".

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what formal procedures, guidelines or best-practice models are in place for the Scottish Futures Trust’s work with (a) local authorities and (b) COSLA and where this information is available.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the conclusions or recommendations reached by the Scottish Futures Trust will be provided to all local authorities.

John Swinney: Dialogue between the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), COSLA and individual councils is already well established, and all parties are able to initiate work on specific programmes and projects or to explore opportunities for aggregation and collaboration or to consult with and take advice from SFT. SFT is developing its own communication and stakeholder liaison strategy to help ensure that public sector bodies engaging with the SFT are kept aware of the support that it can provide.

  SFT’s published Business Plan (Bib. number 48319) highlights that one of SFT’s core activities will be to develop its role as a centre of expertise, accessible to the entire Scottish public sector.

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Futures Trust will let projects in 2009-10.

John Swinney: Yes.

Wheelchairs

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for the NHS wheelchair service for (a) adults and (b) children in (i) NHS Lothian and (ii) Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. An action from the Wheelchair and Seating Service (WSS) Modernisation Action Plan is to review information management and technology (IM&T) provision within this service. All NHS boards are working towards the national referral to treatment target of a maximum of 18 weeks for the entire patient journey by 2011. Although the WSS is not formally included in the target, the five WSS centres need to ensure their contribution to an episode of care supports this objective where possible.

Young Offenders

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24632 by Fergus Ewing on 18 June 2009, what organisation delivers the rehabilitation programme for offenders convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 at HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont.

Fergus Ewing: We provided YouthLink Scotland with £22,000 to develop an anti-sectarian resource for youth workers. Using this resource a partnership of YouthLink Scotland, the Iona Community, Barnardos and Glasgow City Council then developed the anti-sectarian programme which is now delivered in Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI). The programme is delivered by the Iona Community and prison officers at Polmont YOI as part of the overall youth rehabilitation work which they deliver.